Range and view finder



NOV. 7, 1939. H|NEL|NE 2,178,857

RANGE AND VIEW FINDER Original Filed July 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet l a I Wig! M3 INVENTOR izzzsowflflme Zzbw %zs ATTORNEYS NOV. 7, 1939. 5 s HINELINE 2,178,857

RANGE AND VIEW FINDER- Original Filed July 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENT.OR.

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RANGE AND VIEW FINDER Original Filed'July 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZNVENIOR.

.ZZZsmSi/QineZuze 5 2274 $1.4M 491% vzis ATTORNEYS 1939 E. s. HINELINE 2,178,857

RANGE AND VIEW FINDER I Original Filed July 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.9

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RANGE AND VIEW FINDER Original Filed July 29, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENIOR.

Patented Nov. 7,, i236 RANGE AND VHF-W FINDER Edson S. Hineline, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Folmer Graflen Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Qriginal application July 29, 1937, Serial No.

156,366. Divided and this application Septemher 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,121

7 @laims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 156,360, filed July 29, 1937, now Patent No. 2,167,436, dated July 25, 1939.

The invention relates to a range and view finder for and preferably built into cameras.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I will disclose a single embodiment thereof, to which I am in no wise limited, and the preferred manner of using the same.

The invention relates to range and view finders, and for the purpose of disclosing the same and its manner of use I have herein shown a new camera with a number of built-in coordinated features that enable the operator to carry out the various functions in making a photograph with great accuracy and rapidity, but I do not herein claim the feature or features involved in focusing in insufiicient natural light or in the absence of natural light, since that matter is claimed in my application Ser. No. 278,887, filed June 13, 1939, which application is also a true division of, and was co-pending with, the parent application Ser. No. 156,360, which is now Patent No. 2,167,436.

One of the preliminary functions is that of positioning the lens in such relation to the focal plane that the image formed at the focal'plane will be in sharp focus. There are several methods of doing this, some of which are as follows: (a) focusing on a conventional ground glass screen, or (1)) setting the camera to a predetermined scale, either measuring or guessing at the distance, or (0) using an optical device that is interconnected with the moving front part of the camera which normally carried the lens. In the camera herein disclosed this feature or optical device just referred to is built into the camera and is permanently connected at all times. A. further requirement in photographing effectively is that the user may be able to view the exact image that is being photographed, and it is a great advantage that he be able to view this image while focusing and up to the exact time of ex-- posure. This is also a built-in feature of the camera herein disclosed.

A more complete understanding of my invention may be had from the following description wherein- Fig. l is a schematic diagram of the operation of the range finder as used in daylight;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the range finder when employing the projector;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the camera with the door open and the front extended;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the camera with the range finder cover removed to show the arrangement of the various parts that go to make up the range finder, and also showing the location of the photo electric cell, the photo electric cell meter, the placement of batteries and the battery contact mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail in plan of the lens carrying arm and certain immediately adjacent parts;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through a part of the camera showing the coupling mechanism between the front of the camera and the range finder mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailshowing the relation of the cam follower bar and the focusing cam when the camera is in position as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of Fig. 7 on the line 68 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 except that the camera front is shown in a position when focused at infinity;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail in plan of the cam follower bar;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through Fig. 10 on the line fllli;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of Fig. 4 on the line L Z-H2 thereof; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of Fig. 4 on the line l3[l3 thereof.

I am aware that in combination range finders and view finders, it has long been common to use in the optical group two mirrors, both of which are in some cases stationary or one of which is mounted for rocking movement as in the German patent to Alard du Bois-Reymond, No. 188,342, September 23, 1907, and in the United States Patent to Woodbury, No. 1,238,473, August 28, 1917. The range finder herein disclosed differs from all those of the prior art known to me in a number of respects which will be pointed out in detail and which include the mounting of a negative lens between two stationary mirrors, the said negative lens being operatively connected to the movable front or front standard of the camera.

In the ensuing description, I will set forth numerous advantages that flow from my invention, the selected embodiment of which is herein shown. Without limiting my invention to the structure herein disclosed, I will now specifically refer to the selected embodiment or example of my invention and the manner of applying and using the same.

The box or casing of the camera is indicated at I] in the various figures wherein the same is lOWl'l. It may be'of any suitable character and instruction, although it is herein indicated as re so-called Press type of camera, commonly flOWIl as the Speed Graphic camera, to which me of camera my invention is not limited, it ring merely the selected embodiment of the in- :ntion. The shutter plate of the camera is indiited at 2 in Fig. 3. The focusing knob is repreented at 6 and the focal plane shutter winding nob at l in Fig. 2. The release for the focal .ane shutter is represented at 8 in said figure. he carrying handle for the camera is indicated I0, and the camera bed at I5, wherever it apaars throughout the drawings.

The front side rails of the camera are indicated 20, the front locks at 2|, the front side brace indicated at 22, and the camera front clamp at If. The foregoing features may be of any usual suitable construction and need not be more irticularly described.

The camera is provided with a combined range ad view finder, which will be described in detail ereinafter. The housing therefor is represented a 24 in Figs. 4, 12 and 13. It is provided with a )ver plate 25 and with a view and range finder ns 26, which, as clearly indicated in the diarams Figs. 1 and 2, is a negative lens.

The said range finder is a combination view nder and range finder by which I mean that the (act image is seen at all times through the lens when the range finder adjustment is taking lace. Thus the operator is viewing the subject p to the instant of making the exposure. The Lid view finder 26 is also one element of the inge finder itself. The elements that go to make p the range finder are more particularly dezribed hereinafter.

In order to provide operating means for the inge finder, I have preferably employed two ims indicated at 21 and 28 in'Fig. 3, and elsehere, and which I term range finder focusing ims. The cam 21 is positioned for short focus nses and the cam 28 for long focus lenses. I lay within the scope of my invention employ a ngle variable cam for this purpose and change 1e position thereof from that indicated in the :veral figures for cam 21 to the position shown,

ierein for the cam 28. I prefer, however, to nploy two different cams.

The camera is provided with a front track, early shown at 29. The camera bellows is in- .cated at 30 and the front board for the bellows 3|. In Fig. 3 there is indicated at 32 a focusing :ale which functions when using short focus nses. It is held in position by screws 32a. In re same figures I have indicated at 33 a focusing :ale which functions when using long focus nses. It is held in place by screws 33a.

The so-called infinity stops are indicated at 34, irticularly in Figs. 3 and 6, and the cameraont track shoes are indicated at 35. The track iide rails for the camera are indicated at 36, 1d the retaining screws therefor at 31.. I have ."ovided lock screws for the range finder focusg cams, the same being represented at 38 in the iveral figures, and which are employed for seiring in position both the focusing cams 21 and I. I also provide in this connection focusing-- in said Fig. 3, the range finder eye piece is indicated at 43. It is also shown in Fig. 4. Adjacent thereto, there is represented at 44 the photo cell meter which will be more particularly referred to hereinafter. The exposure calculator is indicated at 45.

Before describing in detail the range and view finder itself, and which is the subject matter herein particularly claimed, I will first describe the preferred means for operating the movable element thereof, namely, the negative lens positioned between two stationary mirrors. In order to movethe said lens in causing the range finder to function, I may provide (though my invention is not limited thereto) substantially the same means for connecting said movable element with the front or front standard of the camera that I employ in my co-pending application Ser. No. 155,259, filed July 23, 1937, now Patent No. 2,167,435, dated July 25, 1939, for turning the pivoted mirror in the optical group there shown. I am not limited to the employment of any particular means for causing the conjoint movement of the camera front and the movable member of the optical group. As stated, however, I may employ substantially the same connecting means, and I will now proceed to describe the same specifically without limiting my invention thereto, and in this connection I will refer particularly to Figs. 6, '7, and 11.

The so-called front standard or movable front of the camera is indicated at 46. The rear bellows frame is indicated at 41 and attached thereto is a bracket48 for the base rod or bar 49 of the toggle mechanism. The said rod or bar 49 is pivoted to the bracket 48 by a suitable rivet 50, and is provided with two lengthwise extending slots 5|, which receive rivets 52, 52 that are provided upon the innermost of the toggle arms 53, 53. A number of toggle arms 53 are indicated which are all suitably connected by rivets 54. There is also provided a toggle arm centering link at 55 which connects the rod or bar 49 with one of the toggle arms 53 as clearly indicated in the several figures. Extending from and suitably connected thereto by a rivet 56 is a toggle-arm-mechanism-connecting link 51 that is also connected by rivet 58 to an arm 59 upon the range finder control rod or shaft 60, which is mounted in the camera casing in an upright position close to one Wall of the camera casing, and in a manner similar to that disclosed in my said application Ser. No. 155,259,

now Patent No. 2,167,435. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 9, there is provided a clamp screw 6| for securing the arm 59 upon the said rod or shaft 60.

The two slots 5|, 5| allow the rivets 52, 52 to slide toward the lengthwise center of the rod or bar 49 or away from the said center depending upon the distance the toggle joint has been separated. In order that the toggle joint mechanism may always travel centrally with respect to the rod or bar 49, the short length bar 55 is provided, as already stated. It is attached to one of the toggle bar arms 53 and to said bar 59 by shoulder rivets 60a, 60a.

Mounted transversely upon the camera front or front standard or upright 46, I have provided a cam follower arm or member 62,,which is provided with lengthwise extending slots 63, 53 in which are received screws 64, 64 for retaining the same but permitting it to be moved in the direction of its axis under the influence of focusing cam 21 or 28, as the case may be. The said arm or member 62 is provided with a threaded hole 65 amass? 3 shown in Fig. 10 for the reception of a toggle arm connecting screw 66, by which the said arm or member is connected to the toggle mechanism. The said arm or member 62 is provided with a cam follower roller 51, shown most clearly in Figs. 10'and 11, and which is held to the arm or member 62 by a shoulder screw 88. There is also provided in said bar or member a hole 6t, shown in Fig. 11 for the reception of a spring Hi by which the roller 61 is held in contact with the cam formation of the cam 21 or cam 28. The other end of the said spring 10 is secured in an opening H in one of the camera front side rails 233.

It will be very clearly seen that any movement in a lengthwise direction of the cam follower bar 62 (that is, a movement transversely of the camera) will transmit movement to the toggle joint bar 49 and thence through the link 51 and arm 6t to the range finder control rod or shaft 66.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6 and elsewhere, the camera case I is provided in the box portion thereof with a short section of track indicated at 1 I a, 1 la, fastened to the said box structure by screws H b. On the camera bed or door is are fastened camera track rails 36, 36 by screws 31, 31. The camera tracks 29, 29 slide in the said rails 36, 36 and are caused to move forward and backward by means of the focusing knob ii, previously referred to.

It will be understood that as the camera front or upright 45 is pulled forward, the cam roller 61 of the arm or member 62 will ride upon the edge of the focusing cam 21, or cam 2d, as the case may be, causing the said cam follower arm or member 62 to move in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the camera. This motion is transmitted through the screw '56, the short arms He, He, and the longer arms 53 of the toggle joint mechanism, through the rivets 54 to the toggle joint slotted rod or bar Q9, the connecting link 51 and the arm 59 to the control rod or shaft 60. Thus the inward movement of the camera front or upright 46 collapses the entire toggle arm structure.

It will be understood that in the foregoing movements the roller 6'! follows the edge of the focusing cam 21 or cam 28, causing the cam follower arm or member 62 to move in such manner as to move the slotted toggle bar 59 toward the back of the camera. Through the link 51 and the lever arm 59 a contraclockwise motion is imparted to the range finder rod or shaft 60.

When the camera is closed for transportation or otherwise, the camera front or upright 46 is caused to be slid all the way back by squeezing toward each other the camera front locks, indicated at Hf, Hf in Figs. 6 and 9, which causes the camera track shoes 35 to be pulled toward each other and thus to be released from the tracks 29 and allowed to slide freely thereon. When the camera locks Hf, Hf are squeezed toward each other and the camera front mechanism is pushed back, the shoes 35, 35 override the tracks Ha, Ha within the camera casing or box, thus allowing the camera to be completely folded, after which the camera door or bed i5 is swung upon the hinge Hg into closed position.

I will now describe the range and view finder itself and the optical group thereof, and for this purpose I will refer particularly to Figs. 4, 12 and 13.

In Fig. 4, what I term a first-surface mirror is indicated at 12. It is supported in the housing 2 1 of the range and view finder by a lug or boss i3 formed on the wall thereof, and a stud I 1. Thus the said mirror is stationarily mounted. The other mirror, which I term a semi-transparent mirror is indicated at E5. It also is sta-= tionarily mounted, being for the purpose held in a front bracket 15 and a rear bracket iii, secured to the housing 26. By semitransparent mirror, I mean one that has a coating whose ratio of reflection to transmission is controlled by the amount of coating. The said two mirrors i2 and 75 are mounted parallel to each other, but the axis of each is at ninety degrees to the axis of an intermediate negative lens 18, which is mounted in a bracket 79. The said bracket is secured by screws iii! to an arm or lever that is pivoted on a shoulder screw 82 mounted in the housing 2 3, and which at its end opposite the negative lens i8 is forked as indicated at 83 to receive a cam 84 attached by a screw 85 to the upper end of the range finder control rod or shaft 60, hereinbefore described.

Before proceeding to describe certain additional features of the said range and view finder and the manner in which the same function, I will describe certain parts which are mounted in the said housing 24 and which are correlated with and function with the range and view finder as hereinafter more hilly set forth.

I have somewhat diagrammatically indicated a photo electric cell at 86, said cell being mounted in a bracket 81, being most clearly shown in Fig, 4. I am, of course, aware that exposure meters of various types have been employed in photography. The one which I employ is of a a standard photoelectric cell type using a micronometer as an indicating device. I have, however, so mounted a cell of that type that the reflected light which is measured thereby is substantially the same as the light that passes through the camera lens to make a photograph. This I regard as exceedingly important inasmuch as in the use of all the exposure meters of the prior art with which I am familiar it is impossible to measure the light accurately from the same point as that from which the photograph is being made. In other words, in the common photoelectric cell type of exposure meter, it is necessary for the user to approach quite close to the object being photographed and to measure the light and then to return to the picture-making position in order to make the exposure. Therefore, there is quite an element of guess or of personal equation as to what the actual distance from the object should be in making the photograph.

The photoelectric cell herein disclosed, although generally of a standard type, is so constructed by me that the acceptance angle of the light entering the photoelectric cell is substantially the same as that of the angle of the lens making the photograph. Therefore, I obtain a true reading on the exposure micronometer which I have indicated at 88 in Fig. 4, from whatever position the camera has when the exposure is being. made.

In Fig. 12, there is shown the range finder aperture ferrule at 89, which receives therein the range finder glass 90 held in place in the ferrule by a ring 9| In making the pictures with the ordinary optical finder or in focusing on the ground glass of the camera when the light is very poor, such operation often takes place with the aid of photo flash bulbs or photo flash powder combinations. In order to enable me, however, to use the present camera at all times regardless of light conditions, and so that regardless of said light conditions the camera can always be accurately focused on whatever subject is being photographed, I have provided a projector which, as will be fully understood from the following description, coordinates and cooperates with the range finder. For that purpose I have provided the following mechanism which is most clearly shown in Figs. 4, 12 and 13. Said mechanism, however, is not claimed herein, but is claimed in the said co-pending application Ser. No. 278,887, wherein are presented all claims directed to the feature of using a range finder in insuiiicient natural light. Such subject-matter is nevertheless herein fully disclosed and will now be fully described.

In the casing 24 of the range finder is provided, as most clearly shown in Fig. 13, a projector housing or barrel 92 which carries a very small or miniature bulb 93 with a tiny coil filament 94. In front of the said filament is placed a lens 95 held in the projector housing or barrel by a ring 96. The position of the filament 94 in said bulb with respect to the magnifier lens 95 is such that for all distances greater than five feet, the image of the filament 94 in said bulb 93 is pro- .iected in universal focus. The bulb 93 is not intended to illuminate the scene or object being photographed, but its function is to project an image of the said filament 94 of said bulb onto whatever object is to be photographed. The range finder herein disclosed, in turn, then picks up the image of the filament 94 of the bulb 93 and the focusing adjustment is made precisely as when focusing in daylight. I am entirely familiar with several types of focusing devices wherein the filament is projected for focusing purposes either through the lens of the camera that makes the picture or by some other type of lens mechanism where the focal length of such lens was very close to the focal length of the camera objective lens. In such cases of the prior art, however, the operator necessarily focused the image projected through whatever means is employed, onto the object that is being photoraphed, and the error necessarily was always very great because the farther away the object being photographed was from the camera, the less accuracy could be had in focusing the image on the filament.

In the practice of my invention, the focus that is obtained on the filament is in reality of no importance, for the focusing of the filament may be considerably in error and yet a very sharp focus on the camera lens with respect to the camera plate or film is obtained through the range finder. x r

The projector is provided with two batteries 91, 98 of the flashlight type. A rear battery contact is provided at 99, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. A battery contact insulating strip is provided at I99 held in position by screws IN, I III. The battery contact wire is indiacted at I92. The upper switch plate of the battery is indicated at I93 in Fig. 4 and the switch plunger at I94. A switch plate insulating block is provided as shown at I95, most clearly shown in Fig. 13, held in position by screws I96. The lower switch plate is represented at I91 and the photoelectric cell meter retaining screws are shown at I98 in Fig. 4. In the same figure the zero adjustment screw for said meter is indicated at I99 and at the extreme right in said figure the battery retaining plug is indicated at H9, and the battery retaining plug contact spring is represented at III. In

Fig. 12, the lower insulating block is represented at II2.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 13, there is provided an eye piece lens I I3 which is held in position by a ring I I4 in the range finder eye piece or ferrule 43.

The projector bulb 93 is held in position by a screw H5 and the entire projector assembly, housing or barrel 92 is held in position in the range finder element by a retaining screw I I6. There is also provided, as shown most clearly at the left in Fig. 13, a switch insulating center block at H1 and a lower insulating switch block at II 9.

The two batteries 91, 98 are sufiicient to illuminate the lamp bulb 93. The circuit is readily traced through the battery 98, battery 91, contact 99, wire I92, switch plate I93, switch plate II", to the bulb contact H9 in Fig. 13.

The structure of the switch I94 is most clearly shown in Fig. 13, and is there indicated as a button. When the same is in the upper position as indicated in said figure, no current can fiow from the contact I93 of Fig. 4 to the contact I91. When the said button I94 is pushed downward the contact I93 engages the contact I91, thus allowing the current to fiow through the lamp 93, through the contact II9, through the bulb 93, through the lamp or bulb base thereof, through the projector barrel or housing 92 to the range finder casting or housing 24. Inthe said range finder housing 24, there is provided, as already stated, the plug II 9 with the attached spring III, thus making the final contact to the battery.

Having thus described the structure of the photoelectric meter and the projector as the same are built into the range and view finder housing, I will next refer to certain other features of the range finder and describe more fully the functioning thereof.

The cam 94 previously described as attached to the upper end of the range finder control rod or shaft 69 provides the means whereby the arm or lever 8| is swung upon its pivotal shoulder screw 62. The negative lens 18 carried by the inner end of the said arm 8| has substantially the same curvature as the view finder lens 26. When the negative lens 18 is in the so-called infinity position, it is with respect to its axis at an angle of ninety degrees with respect to the first-surface mirror 12.

I have discovered that by making elements of the range finder of dissimilar colors and particularly by making the lens 26 and the negative lens 18 of dissimilar colors, I obtain a result greatly facilitating the accurate setting or functioning of the range finder. While I am not limited in my selection of colors, I desirably form the lens 26 of blue glass and the lens 18 of yellow or amber glass. The said two colors are an example of so-called complementary or antagonistic colors which when mixed or blended produce white or gray light. Other complementary colors are red and verdigris, orange and greenish blue, greenyellow and violet, green and purple, and bluish green and carmine. I preferably, however, use blue glass for the lens 26 and a yellow or amber glass for the negative lens 16.

When the camera is out of focus, the general view as seen on the lens 26 through the eye-piece lens II3 (Fig. 13) is of a bluish color. The displaced image is reflected through the mirror 12 and through the negative lens 18, is then reflected by the mirror 15, and. when viewed through amass? the lens H3 is of a yellow color. When the two images exactly overlie or are superimposed one upon the other, the resulting color returns to normal, and there is a considerable stepping up in the brilliancy of the two images. In other words, when exact register is obtained, the image as viewed through the lens I I3 is very much clearer than is either the image as viewed on lens H3 or on lens I8 when the two images are displaced.

Other color combinations may be used instead of the blue and yellow or amber preferred by me, but my experimentation shows that a blue lens 26 and a yellow or amber lens it provide the best results.

The operation of the optical elements of the range finder when making an exposure in daylight and when not using the projector is clearly shown in Fig. 1, to which I will next refer.

It will be assumed for purposes of description, but not of limitation, that the negative lens 26 is of blue glass and the movable negative lens It is of yellow or amber color as marked in Fig. l. The said negative lens I8 is of substantially the same focal length as the negative lens 26. The first-surface mirror is indicated at- I5 and the semitransparent mirror at "I2. I have indicated at in Fig. l a piece of glass which is placed in the range finder housing and is used merely as an enclosure to prevent dust from reaching the mechanism. In said Fig. 1, I have represented at right and left arrows A, A They are shown as spaced in said figure, but in reality they represent a single object at infinity. The dotted lines B and C, although represented as parallel, in reality converge at an indefinite distance. An image of the arrow A at the left is formed on the lens 26, and when viewed through the magnifier H3 is seen through the mirror l2 and will appear in the magnifier I I3 as the small arrow a adjacent to said magnifier H3. The same image but which is indicated as the arrow A at the right, will be viewed through the glass 90 on the mirror 15, will be reflected therefrom and will appear as an image formed on lens 18, will be reflected by the mirror I2, and will be viewed through the magnifier H3, appearing as the small arrow 11 adjacent the arrow a near the magnifier H3. The said two arrows a and a. near the magnifier lens H3 now exactly overlie each other and the camera is in focus at infinity.

When focusing at a, nearer distance, the arrow A is viewed through the lens 26, and again will be viewed as the said arrow 11' through the magnifier lens H3. The secondary image A however, will be displaced as indicated by the arrow A shown with a hatched shaft. It will be refiected by the mirror 15, an image will be formed on the negative lens 18 which will be reflected by the mirror 12, and will be viewed as the adjacent arrow a (appearing with a hatched shaft) through the magnifier H3. If the lever arm 8ibe swung in the direction of the arrow II2I thereon (which action takes place by reason of the movement of the camera front forward with the objective lens through the range finder connecting mechanism, as previously described), such action will cause the said arrow a to move into the position of the dotted line arrow a adjacent the magnifier lens H3. It will be reflected by mirror 12 and will be viewed through the magnifier H3 as such dotted line arrow 0. adjacent the magnifier lens I I3. The arrows a and a exactly overlie each other under these conditions, and the camera will be in focus for whatever distance the object represented by the arrows Ii and A is from the camera. Adjacent the mirrors l2 and I3 I have indicated, in their corresponding positions, the arrows above referred to.

I will now refer to the operation when focusing the camera under what I term insumcient light conditions and in that connection will refer to the diagram, Fig. 2. I have in the foregoing description fully set forth that a projector, such as the bulb 93 with filament 9 3, is provided which can be illuminated by pushing down the button I66. The image of the filament 34 is projected through the magnifier lens and will fall on the object being photographed. I have represented in all cases in Fig. 2 a wavy line instead of an arrow, but I have used the same character designations, and it will be unnecessary to repeat the description of the operation, which will be understood from the foregoing. The focusing of the camera will take place exactly as previously described excepting that wavy lines take the place of the arrows in Fig. l.

I will now briefly refer to the manipulation of the camera the structure whereof has been fully described.

The door I5 of the camera, which when opened out constitutes the bed thereof, is opened by first pressing the button ii, shown in Fig. 3. This depresses a latch so that said latch is disengaged from the bed latch plate 40 of Fig. 3. The door I5 can now be opened. The camera front 46 is now pulled outwardly from the camera box by squeezing toward each other the camera bed locks Iii. The camera front is pulled out until the track shoes 35 contact with the infinity stop blocks 3 3 on the tracks 29. The camera front ill will then be in the position shown in Fig. 9, which is the infinity position for the lens when using range finder cam 27 with a short focus lens. However, the camera front {it can be moved further forward by turning the knob Ii which is attached to a shaft I23 carrying a pinion I2 3. Said pinion meshes with a rack I25 attached to the camera tracks 29. By turning the said knob ii in a clockwise direction, the tracks 29 are caused to move forward, carrying therewith the camera front 6b, the camera front rails 20, the front bellows frame or board 3!, the shutter H and the lens i2. The bellows 30 being attached to the bellows frame or board 3i is also moved forward. When the camera front 46 with the said parts is moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 3, the adjustment is correct for making an exposure as indicated by the focusing scale 32 for a distance of five feet. By merely turning the focusing knob 6 forward or backward, the camera front 36 with the objective lens, etc. can be adjusted to any position from five feet to infinity, as shown on the said scale 32. When using a camera for known distances, this method of operation is quite satisfactory without using the range finder. The foregoing description of operation applies when the camera is equipped with a short lens, such as a 5 on a 3% x 4% camera. If, for example, the camera is changed to a 6%" lens, the infinity blocks 34 are accordingly changed, so that the pointer I26 of Fig. 3 will rest on the infinity position on the focusing scale 33 instead of on the focusing scale 32, as indicated on Fig. 3. The camera front 46 can then be 70 moved to any position along the scale 33 by turning the focusing knob 6 in the manner described.

As already stated with reference to Fig. 4, any motion imparted to the range finder control rod or shaft Ell is transmitted to the cam 84 and will cause a movement of the negative lens supporting arm or lever 8|. If the camera front 46 is moved in the forward direction, or for taking a photograph at a close distance, the cam roller 61 is caused to travel up on the cam face I21 of the cam 21, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. '7, causing the rod or bar 49 of the toggle mechanism to be moved in a lengthwise direction toward the top of the sheet viewing Figs. 6 and 7, thus imparting clockwise motion'to the range finder control rod or shaft 60. Also a clockwise motion is imparted to the cam 84 which causes the arm or lever H to be moved in the direction of the arrow I28 on Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described in detail certain mechanical connections between the movable camera front 46 and the range finder control rod 60, it is to be understood that I am not limited to. the use of said mechanical connections, but that such other means maybe substituted as will provide for the correlative movement of the said parts, the illustrated means having been selected merely as one example or embodiment of means that may be employed for the purpose.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. For use in cameras and the like, a combined view and range finder having as a part of the optical group thereof a combined viewing and range finding negative lens of 'such size that, when said lens is positioned or mounted on a camera, the exact image of a subject to be photographed by the camera is seen through the lens while the range finding operation is taking place, said optical group also including a fixed first surface mirror and a fixed semi-transparent mirror spaced structurally apart from each other, a negative lens mounted between said mirrors, means to move said last mentioned negative lens so as to changethe position of its axis with respect to the planes of said mirrors, and a magnifier lens on the opposite side of one of said mirrors from the first mentioned negative lens and so positioned that said three last mentioned elements are in line, but are as a group out of line with the other mirror, said two negative lenses being of sufliciently contrasting colors to produce, when blended, a substantial stepping up in the brilliancy of the two images.

2. In a range and view finder, a combined view and range finder having as a part of the optical group thereof a combined viewing and range finding negative lens of such size that, when said lens is positioned or mounted on a camera, the exact image of a subject to be photographed by the camera is seen through the lens while the range finding operation is taking place, said optical group also including a fixed first surface mirror and a fixed semi-transparent mirror spaced structurally apart from each other, a

negative lens mounted between said mirrors,

3. A combined view and range finder particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras and therefore having a viewing lens of sufiicient size for observing therethrough a subject in preparation for photographing the same, said combined view and range finder also having two mirrors fixed in parallelism, one being in ,line with said viewing lens and constructed to serve both as a light reflector and as a transmitter of light beams entering through said viewing lens, said other mirror being a light-beam-refiector only, a negative lens mounted for range finding, transverse adjusting movement between said two fixed mirrors, and means so to move said negative lens transversely to a right line intersecting said mirrors said means consisting of a pivoted arm extending between said mirrors whereon said negative lens is mounted and whereon it may be swung in an arc transverse to said right line.

4. A combined view and range finder particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras and therefore having a negative viewing lens of sufiflcient size for observing therethrough a subject in preparation for photographing the same, said combined view and range finder also having two mirrors fixed in parallelism, one of them having a surface adapted to transmit light rays received through said negative viewing lens and also to reflect light rays, another negative lens mounted for range finding, transverse adjusting movement between said two fixed mirrors, and means so to move said negative lens transversely to a right line intersecting said mirrors said means consisting of a pivoted arm extending between said mirrors whereon said negative lens is mounted and whereonit may be swung in an arc transverse to said right line.

5. A combined view and range finder particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras and therefore having a negative viewing lens of sufiicient size for observing therethrough a subject in preparation for photographing the same, said combined view and range finder also having two mirrors fixed in parallelism, one of them having a surface adapted to transmit light rays received through said negative viewing lens and also to reflect light rays, a second negative lens between said two mirrors, a pivoted arm upon which relatively remote from the pivot thereof said second negative lens is mounted between said mirrors and having bodily movement on said pivoted arm transverseto a line through the centers of said two mirrors, and means for moving said last mentioned negative lens upon its pivot for range finding adjustment.

6. A combined view and range finder particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras and having among its optical elements a negative viewing lens of sufficient size for observing therethrough a subject in preparation for photographing the same, two mirrors mounted in parallelism,

one having a surface adapted to transmit light rays received through said negative viewing lens and also to refiect light rays, said combined view and range finder also having among its optical elements a second negative lens positioned between said two mirrors, one of said last three mentioned elements being adjustable for range finding operation, said two negative lenses being of complementary colors.

7. A combined view and range finder particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras and having among its optical elements a negative viewing lens of suficient size for observing therethrough a subject in preparation for photoamass? 2 graphing the same, said negative viewing lens being colored to contrast with the color of some other optical element of the said combined View and range finder, two mirrors mounted in parallelism, one having a surface adapted to transmit light rays received through said negative viewing lens and also to reflect light rays, said combined view and range finder also leaving among its optical elements a second negative lens positioned between said two mirrors, one of said last three mentioned elements being adjustable for range finding operation, one of said negative lenses being of "a blue color and the other beina of a yellow color.

EDSON S. HINELINE. 

